This morning, I am posting information on Alexander Thomson's St. Vincent Street Church which is located at the corner of St. Vincent St and Pitt St., Glasgow.

Thomson ( 1817-1875) was probably the greatest mind in Scottish architecture during the Victorian era.

This St Vincent St Church is the only surviving intact church by the architect. It is raised up on its own man made Acropolis on what is a steeply sloping site.

The Ionic porticoes are purely symbolic while the tall steeple suggest an inspiration from the Indian sub continent.

Internally, Thomson made impressive use of light and space. There are cast-iron columns with extraordinary capitals and windows in which huge sheets of rolled glass are rammed straight into the masonry.The interior suggests classical Greek, Assyrian and Indian influences. Thee are also decorative plant and shellfish motifs which are peculiar to Thomson.

Thomson left an extensive legacy of his work in and around Glasgow. He is buried in Glasgow's Southern Necropolis. In due course I plan to put up a web page dedicated to his buildings.

Labels: architecture

posted by Catswhiskers @ 2:57 AM  0 comments

This morning was relatively mild. I went out and took a picture of Thomson's Double Villa which dates from 1856-57.

The architecture is of note because, instead of the usual butterfly symmetry in a pair of semi-detached houses, Thomson took one house plan and rotated it through 180 degrees so that that the resulting building has two identical, asymmetrical elevations, each both back and front.

Labels: architecture

posted by Catswhiskers @ 12:38 PM  0 comments

This evening, I am posting an image taken yesterday during my visit to the interesting city of Perth.

Here are some images of the (aptly named) St. Leonards-in-the-Fields and Trinity Kirk (Church).

This church is located on low lying ground just opposite playing fields where a game of football (soccer) was in progress.

I took the images just prior to commencement of the 1100 am Sunday service, which is why the church door is open as the congregation were filing in.

This is a Presbyterian church within the Church of Scotland.

The interesting architecture falls within the Late Gothic & Rennaisance Revival category.



I enjoy researching and delivering architecture tours of Scotland.

Labels: architecture

posted by Catswhiskers @ 12:17 PM  0 comments

Today, I decided to explore some of Glasgow's famous buildings with a 'Greek' Thomson theme.

Alexander Thomson was, arguably, the greatest architect of Victorian Glasgow. He obtained the sobriquet 'Greek' because he believed that the architecture of ancient Greece could be the basis of modern architecture. Notwithstanding Thomson's fascination for Greece, he never actually visited the country. He was born in Balfron in 1817 and died in 1875 at his home in Moray Place, the terrace he had designed.

Here are some images of the Caledonia Road Church 1856-57. This was Thomson's first church but now a vandalised ruin on the edge of the Gorbals. However, the remains have a certain dignity and distinction with an elevated portico and a most unusual tower, probably inspired by modern German architecture.






Bucks Head Building-1863. This is located at 59-61 Argyle Street & Dunlop Street. A commercial building in which the iron construction is expressed externally.



The Gordon Street, Warehouse, opposite Central Station.

There is an Edwardian era superstructure placed on top. However, the Thomson facade is very visible; it is full of subtleties and distinctive ornament.



Egyptian Halls, Union Street. 1870-72.

Exterior looks sad/tired. This building was built as a bazaar or shopping centre and named after the Egyptian Hall in Piccadilly, London. Interior constructed of iron; exterior of stone and was designed in a series of rich horizontal layers building up to a colonnade.




Grecian Buildings, 336-356 Sauchiehall Street. 1867-68
Originally a commercial warehouse but now the Centre for Contemporary Arts.


This is the famous Willow Tea Rooms, Sauchiehall Street. Nothing to do with Thomson but took the pic as I was passing.

St. Vincent Street Church 1857-59 (Cnr. of Pitt St.)

The only surviving intact Thomson church. It is raised up on its own man-made Acropolis on the steeply sloping site. The ionic porticoes raised up are purely symbolic while the tall steeple is believed to be Indian inspired.Cast iron columns with extraordinary capitals are found inside.
This building still appears to be in use a living Church ( Free Presbyterian). The exterior would benefit from a good clean!!




Acknowledgement: For this tour and information I am indebted to a brochure: 'Glasgow Architectural Guide 1'.

Labels: architecture

posted by Catswhiskers @ 7:45 AM  0 comments

Here is a list of some unusual buildings which Historic Scotland has decided to "list" as heritage buildings. These may be of interest to architects and persons interested in design;

• Dounreay Nuclear Power Station, Caithness. The dome is of particular interest.
• Lion Chambers, Glasgow. One of the early buildings to be constructed from lightweight reinforced concrete.
• Pillar box in Hyndland Road, Glasgow. One of only 161 such pillarboxes installed during the short lived reign of Edward VIII.
• St. Peter's College, Cardross, Dunbartonshire. A Roman Catholic Seminary which closed in 1980.
• The Bookie's Tower at Lanark Racecourse.
• The Glasgow College of Building and Printing. This dates from the 1960s.
• David Hume Tower, Edinburgh University. Completed 1963.
• Gala Fairydean FC's concrete grandstand. ( Galashiels Football Club)
  

See Scotland's unusual architecture with catswhiskerstours

Labels: architecture

posted by Catswhiskers @ 10:47 AM  0 comments

Robert Adam (1728-92)

Born Kirkcaldy, Fife. Notable for:

• Register House, Edinburgh.
• Elevations for Charlotte Square, Edinburgh.
• Culzean Castle, Ayrshire
• Dalquharran Castle, Girvan, Ayrshire
• Caldwell House, Uplawmoor, Renfrewshire.

David Bryce ( 1803-76)

Born Edinburgh. Notable for:

• Fettes College.
• Old Edinburgh Infirmary
• Eastend House, Biggar, Lanarkshire.
• Seacliffe House, North Berwick.
• Kilberry Castle, Tarbert, Argyll.
• Trumland House, Orkney
• Stirkoke House, Caithness.

Archibald Simpson (1790-1847)

Aberdeen based and noted for:

• Royal Infirmary
• Greek Revival Music Hall
• County Assembly Rooms
• Haddo House, Huntly
• Lessendrum House, Huntly
• Glasshaugh House, Portsoy.

James Gillespie Graham (1776-1855)

Born Dunblane, Perthshire and noted for:

• Glenfinnan Monument
• Interiors of Hopetoun House and Taymouth Castle
• Culdees Castle, Crieff.
• Cambusnethan Priory, Wishaw, Lanarkshire.
• Avondale House, Falkirk.

William Burn (1789-1870)

Born Edinburgh and noted for:

• Finnart House, Garelochhead.
• Poltalloch House, Lochgilphead, Argyll.
• Buchanan Castle, Drymen
• Balintore Castle, Kirriemuir

William Leiper (1839-1916)

Born Glasgow and noted for:

• The Elms, Arbroath.

John Adam (1721-92)

Eldest of William Adam's four sons and noted for:

• Largo House, Upper Largo.
• House of Moy, Forres

See Scotland's best architecture with catswhiskerstours

Labels: architecture

posted by Catswhiskers @ 9:13 AM  0 comments